1) Cam Janssen’s hit on Matt Bradley is Exhibit A of what needs to be removed from hockey. Don’t give me the excuse Bradley wasn’t looking. Why would he? He was following the play. I love hitting, but come on.
Elliote Friedman nails it in point 1 of his 30 thoughts column.
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Link refers back to this fanshot, KNtaD.
Good catch on the article.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
Thanks, should be fixed now.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
Indeed is.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
by Whiter Mage on Feb 15, 2010 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
Another interesting data point:
29) Big, big couple of weeks for David Poile. He told Pierre LeBrun he would use this down time to see if he can get his pending UFAs signed – Dan Hamhuis, either goalie.
The market for Dmen at the tradeline tightens (and the price goes up significantly) if this happens. Hamhuis is probably our best option for a move like that, but I’d like to see him on the market regardless, since he improves the supply of available trading targets for teams looking to make a run.
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 10:27 AM EST reply actions
Nice pull KHtaD and you are right, Jansson’s hit on Bradley is a great example of what the needs to adress to make the game safer. Also the fights after good clean hits needs to be looked at. that needs to be curbed somehow.
Also interesting
14) Like Kovalchuk, Anton Volchenkov is represented by Jay Grossman. Is Ottawa worried that Grossman wants Volchenkov to the open market, too? He’s critical to that roster.
I would love to see him in a Caps sweater but the asking price on the open market will probably be way too high. I do not see Ottawa trading him at the deadline.
What amazing date in history are we giong back to today, Mr. Peabody?
No way. He’s waaaaaaay too important to that team, and Ottawa’s in the thick of the playoff hunt right now. Makes no sense to trade him.
Everyone wants to kill the king. But the prince, he just sails along telling all the ladies, "One day I'm gonna be king."
by Steck It Out on Feb 15, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
I absolutly agree but what happens if Grossman pulls a Kovalchuk on the Sens and he says no to an extension? What then?
IMO the Sens hold on to him untill the season is over. It sure would be nice if GMGM could pick him up and still have room for Nicky’s new contract.
:: fingers crossed ::
What amazing date in history are we giong back to today, Mr. Peabody?
Ottawa sent Volchenkov’s agent their contract extension offer two days after the Caps game. So they mean to keep him if they can.
Also, FWIW, Volchenkov was the last member of Team Russia to repirt to VAN, only arriving this morning.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
The Janssen hit and ensuing whopping 1 minute power play for the Caps is also a perfect example of why the instigator rule as it is currently interpreted, sucks a fat one.
I can understand keeping the instigator rule to prevent goons from picking fights for no good reason, but if a fight occurs immediately after an illegal hit or other action that results in a penalty or injury, I think the referees should use discretion and just give the righting parties 5 for fighting.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
@JSportsnet: Cam Jansen Hearing won’t occur until next week…availability of Pleau and Jansen…as well as update of Bradlley concussion
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Feb 15, 2010 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Does it bother anyone else that they would seem to be using the injury to determine the punishment? Or is this a likely misinterpretation of the situation? I really hate that they didn’t address it yesterday.
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
It would bother me big time.
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It does sound that way, and I also think it’s the wrong approach. If headshots are illegal, then they’re illegal. Frolik wasn’t hurt at all, was he?
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Feb 15, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
nope just a little shaken but skated the rest of the game
"Hey anyway I can get my name out there 30 years from now is great," Steckel said. "They will be like, ‘Who was that guy?’ Then they’ll look at the stats and say, ‘Well, at least that guy was really good on face-offs.’"
Wysh retweeted someone who sez 3-5 games for Janssen.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
5 games might be about right. I’d love to see 10 but I know it’ll never happen.
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Feb 15, 2010 5:35 PM EST up reply actions
Related question — listening to NHL Live, and a Caps fan calls in to ask their opinion of the hit. Their response is that they haven’t seen it because they were working Saturday (for the Isles game). That hit was more than a day and a half ago. There’s plenty of video available. People will always call in to ask about these things. Shouldn’t they be prepared before they go on the air? Isn’t that what your staff is supposed to provide?
"The Caps fan doesn't say, 'is the glass half full' or 'is the glass half empty'. He wonders when the glass is going to spill."
Elliote Friedman should be required reading. I look forward to every Monday, becuse his 30 thoughts is published, and so is Capital Up and Down
Kung-fu Rink Rabbit
On Draper having to wear a USA jersey at practice: "well at least the Wings can settle bets without involving gold plated desert eagles!"
11) NBC ‘s decision to carrying ice dancing on its main network instead of Canada/USA on February 21 is why the NHL does not want to go to Sochi.
Can you blame them? Why should they interrupt their season, and be one of the main draws (if not THE main draw) in the pathetic Winter Olympics if that shithouse network is going to relegate them to crappy second tier stations. I wouldn’t care if I got MSNBC in HD, but I don’t, and lots of other people don’t either. I know the players are going to battle hard, but I think I’m starting to come around on the No-NHL Olympics if NBC is going to pull this shit.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I, for one, don’t find the Winter Olympics pathetic.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
That may be a bit too far, but the majority of the Winter Olympics aren’t even sports. Some of it can be exciting, but the IOC knows that hockey is the biggest draw in the WO (and that’s the biggest reason they won’t even discuss hockey going to the summer Olympics).
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I’m not sure I agree. The biggest draw in the US is probably figure skating, because of the appeal to the casual observer. In Turin, most of the games weren’t even covered. There was an ESPN article that I can’t remember who wrote that basically said “One of the biggest draws to the Winter Olympics is that it’s sports return to irrelevance for four years after they end.”
To say Skiing, Snowboarding, Luge, Skeleton, Biathlon, and Bobsled aren’t sports is kind of a joke. I could see an argument for the figure skating/ice dancing to be more of an art than a sport, but then again, you can make that same argument for gymnastics. Curling seems the least sport-like of the bunch.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
Well this goes off the rails and becomes a discussion about what is and is not a sport. IMO you can’t be a sport if you don’t have any impact on the opponent. If I do my turn, then you do your turn, and neither of us make a difference on the other, then it’s not a sport. It can be a competition, but there’s no adversarial nature to it so it’s not a sport. I also don’t think anything that is determined by subjective grading can be a sport, but I don’t want RedBirdie to attack me.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I agree.
Sport ≠ Athletic Competition. People get all up in arms when I mention this, as if I’m degrading the things I don’t consider sports and the abilities they require.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 15, 2010 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
NBC’s Olympic contract runs through 2012. Is there any hope that a different network gets the contract in time for Sochi? I’d love to see the Olympics on ABC again.
"Camaraderie, that's what the Washington Capitals are all about."
by CapitalCentre on Feb 15, 2010 4:37 PM EST up reply actions
Honestly, I have no idea bout those negotiations. But with all the mergers going on I’d say it’s safe to assume there’s a lot left to play out before we have any idea.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Playing Devil’s advocate, because I want the NHL in Sochi, the extra travel to Russia will prolly cost the NHL a few extra days out of that season.
Now helping to keep an eye on all things Gr8 at Alex Ovetjkin.
You just throw in a travel day, or a novel concept, don’t stop the season. They don’t stop it for soccer. Make an exception in the rules saying that a team can make an emergency call up for international events, and bam.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
I’m not sure I follow. Are you suggesting the NHL season continue while some of the stars are away? That won’t fly at all.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. Put the decision in the hands of the players/owners.
If it works in soccer with a 34-42 game schedule, why wouldn’t it work in the NHL?
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
It doesn’t work in soccer, and the US is perhaps the only league that plays during the World Cup. And it’s not a major league. And all the major leagues (read:Europe) are already off for the summer.
MLS loses maybe 12 players across a (now) 16 team league, and a big chunk of its ticket-paying fan base (families) is less concerned about whether a World Cup is going on since it doesn’t compete for their entertainment dollar. The situations aren’t the same.
I’m not talking about the MLS or the World Cup. I’m talking about how top-tier players in European leagues are often lost for three or four games during the regular season for just regular old friendlies. Considering those leagues play about half the season that the NHL does, the impact of those players missing for 10% of the season is roughly the same – the NHL teams have to miss their players for ~6-8 games depending on schedule, as the Olympic tournament is only two weeks long.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
Other than African Cup of Nations the star players are never lost for frendlies. They might get injured or tired and miss games later. But the calendars are worked out so there are “international” dates with no conflicts.
Their managers bitch and moan about them having to play too many games, or when they come back injured, but this has effectively no impact on whether someone is going to buy a ticket to a game or not. That’s different than going 2.5-3 weeks without all the best players in the league for the Olympics. Still no comparison.
It’s the exact same percentage of games, and players miss for friendlies all the time, at least in Bundesliga (I watch pretty religiously). Also they miss for qualifiers. It’d work just fine if you added a rule saying emergency call ups could be made for players missing due to international duties. It would also encourage the Hockey Federations to use more non NHL players, which I’m actually for.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
Dude, you’re making stuff up. Players DON’T miss for friendlies or qualifiers, unless you’re saying they missed a connecting flight home.
Seriously, name a player where that’s happened (not the ANC).
Making stuff up my ass. Macho routinely missed for Kaiserslautern to suit up for Austria for friendlies, and other players would miss. I’m not just pulling shit out of my ass.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
Ok. Jurgen Macho, star player for FCK relegated four years ago. Was he missing when FCK was in the 2BL and not on the int’l schedule?
Don’t want to sound like an ass, but you’re not amking a good argument …
I watch FCK and Bundesliga. I’ve seen more than this example, but you’re trying to act like it just doesn’t happen, and it does.
Maybe some leagues don’t schedule matches during “Friendly Weekends.” Bundesliga 2, at least, does. I’m sure at least one other league does as well, and it really doesn’t hurt the team that much.
Don’t worry about sounding like an ass, I can handle that. Don’t tell me I’m making stuff up though when I am clearly not pulling this out of nowhere.
Maybe not every league does it, but I don’t think it would be that big of a deal if they did.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
Did there use to be club-country conflicts? Pretty sure that’s why they moved to the international dates concept. But that’s only top-division leagues in each country. Which also means that 99.9% of players who’d be considered top-tier in Europe don’t have this conflict (except for the Africans in January). There may have been a very few others for some Asian WC qualifiers, and again that’s not a big number. Sorry to accuse you – I’m assuming you remember some examples that would support your claim. You haven’t shared any so I’m not swayed.
Meanwhile soccer does multiple times annually on small scale what the NHL would do once every four years on a large scale – make an international competition window so there isn’t a conflict.
I don’t remember specific dates, but I remember multiple times of Macho missing for Austrian dates, and a few times that Slovakian striker had to miss. I wouldn’t say 99.9% of the players who represent their nations aren’t affected. A lot of the top players for Norway play in other leagues, same with Slovaks, among others, but I can see your point.
I just don’t see why it’s that big of a deal.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
More that it’s 99.9% of the star players who aren’t affected at all by the current regime (in soccer). You’re proposing it would be fine if the top 100-120 NHL players all missed 2.5-3 weeks at the same time. Granted not every single one missing is at the top in the league (Mike Green >> Milan Jurcina) but you’re left with completely rump rosters during that time.
I’d have to think ticket sales would suffer, and the competition (performance in games played) wouldn’t be the same.
Not saying it would be, but I’m saying then you leave the decision entirely to the players and the owners. It’s no longer worrying about the league’s decision.
Familiar Rapports: Bald Pollack, F&B, Gould Old Days.
Lobbies: Osala, Perreault, Erskine, Pothier, Neuvirth, Flash.
Fan of: Mean Lars Backstrom, Line Mashing, Cake.
But it’s still a matter for the league, and the next CBA. Otherwise you get
Russian Player: “I’m going to play in Sochi”
Owner: “If you do then you won’t be paid and I’m going to fine you an additional six weeks wages for the tickets I can’t sell …”
And soccer gets around this by having FIFA tell the respective FAs and confederations that such-and-such are the international dates for this year, and there will be penalties for not following them. FIFA is acting like the NHL in this case.
I’m completely opposed to that and the owners and GMs are as well so it’s a non-starter.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
What I'd do...
…is extend the season longer.
Just start a week or two earlier and run a couple of weeks into July to make up for the Olympic break, rather than condensing the schedule.
I need a snappy signature...
Hit the nail on the head. NBC’s coverage of the Olympics is abysmal. They’re going on 3 hours north of me, yet I can’t watch them until NBC decides to broadcast them in Primetime, 3 hours AFTER everything goes down. And I don’t get MSNBC, CNBC, or USA, so basically unless I go to a friend’s house or find a stream online (can’t do NBC, they block their stream unless you already have the upgraded Comcast package) my hockey-watching desires are screwed.
Complete and utter bullshit.
Every time Nicky scores a goal, an angel gets its wings.
by SeattleCapsFan on Feb 15, 2010 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
15) Injuries aren’t Montreal’s biggest problem – it’s a lack of toughness. A couple of opponents were saying that playing against the Canadiens is too physically easy. "No one hits you," one said. "They’re not aggressive. One guy on the forecheck, so you can go (defenceman to defenceman) and then out."
And this is why I’m absolutely not scared of MON in the playoffs. Sure, they ended the streak when we were already playing poorly, but over 7 games we will dominate them.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Did you see any of their game vs. Philly on Saturday? First time I saw Subban, looks pretty impressive.
"Where are we going Morty?"
"Back to the boatyard. Somebody's about to get a fucking slap."
by Bald Pollack on Feb 15, 2010 4:28 PM EST up reply actions
Saw a little bit, including a Subban highlight montage. He did look good, but we’ll see how long it lasts. Isn’t this his first pro season? He’s due to hit a wall and I definitely don’t see him killing it in the playoffs.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
24) You hear a lot of coaches say losing streaks are coming when you win a bunch of games you shouldn’t. Couldn’t help but think of that last week while watching Washington. They are exciting, but, in the playoffs, it will not be possible to consistently come back from three-goal deficits.
Disappointing because I expect more from him. It’s true, as far as it goes, but completely ignores the majority of the streak where the Caps were actually playing very solid D. The last 5 games were reckless and we won on firepower, and that’s not sustainable, but that wasn’t how the whole streak went. Lots of 5-2 type games started that run off.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I think he parsed that one very finely — the last week of the streak and the subsequent 3 games, they were really bad defensively and bailing themselves out with tremendous offensive firepower.
I can see the extension to ’that’s how they play all the time’, but I can also see an interpretation that says they need to pick up their defensive game before the playoffs start. Which is kind of vacuously true, we all know that already.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
Ok, but if you give him the benefit of the doubt and interpret it as to the latter, how is that any different than any other team in the league? (Answer: because only the Caps are actually coming back from 3 goal deficits with any regularity.) Every team has had poor defensive stretches, but it’s in vogue to rip on the Caps’ D. Just seems lazy to me.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
That’s fair, but it feels like the Caps are more prone to it than other teams (or rather, have more violent swings through the spectrum of defensive responsibility). I can buy the lazy interpretation, though.
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I’d say the last 8 games were about as bad as the Caps have played defensively all year. On par with the West Coast trip, at least. And our record? 5-1-2. How many teams could say that?
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
30) Meant to put this in last week, but after Tanner Glass took a beating from Matt Carkner , a couple of Senators players said they thought Glass shouldn’t fight again until he learns to protect himself. They were worried he could get really hurt.
And this is my concern with AO fighting. Defending yourself is the most important thing, and we just don’t know if he can. Of course, you can’t know until he does, but this highlights the fact that it is a serious risk that we tend to under-appreciate because they make it look so easy.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I can’t see any possible risk/reward scenarios that work well for AO getting into a fight, especially as the playoffs approach. He’s the best player in the league, why do we want him in the penalty box for 5 minutes, or worse, injured? If he breaks his hand fighting in the playoffs, it can’t be worth any emotional lift the team gets, unless it’s in the last game of the SCF and they win as a result, but even then, how much less likely is it that they win the game without their best offensive player?
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by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 5:25 PM EST up reply actions
Crosby was on the bench for half of game 7…
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Not sure I get the point.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 6:09 PM EST up reply actions
It barely qualifies as a point. Just a quip in response to:
unless it’s in the last game of the SCF and they win as a result, but even then, how much less likely is it that they win the game without their best offensive player?
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Gotcha, zipped right over my head and whooshed on it’s way by.
Only YOU can prevent idiots from commenting!
by Knee high to a duck on Feb 15, 2010 6:28 PM EST up reply actions
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